Acts deemed to be derogatory to women – such as wolf-whistling, physical intimidation and catcalling – could be classed as hate crimes after ministers commissioned a review into whether the law should change.

Grimsby MP Melanie Onn made national headlines in March when she called for a new law to encourage women to report intimidation and harassment on UK streets.

She led a debate in Parliament at the time explaining why it was time to end the daily comments, jeers and fear some women experience while in public.

The shadow minister for housing was buoyed then by the news this week that ministers have asked the Law Commission to review the UK’s definition of hate crimes after her campaign was taken up by a fellow Labour MP.

Her party colleague Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow in London, attempted to amend the “upskirting” law during its passage through the House of Commons on Wednesday, September 5, to include misogyny as a hate crime.

The amendment did not pass but justice minister Lucy Frazer told MPs that she would be calling for a review into what classified a hate crime.

Misogyny could be classed as a hate crime after ministers ordered a review into harassment against women (Image: Bath Gender Equality Network (BGEN))

Ms Onn said: “Having long campaigned for this change I welcome the Law Commission's review into providing an up-to-date definition for hate crimes.

“Making misogyny a hate crime would help victims feel more confident in coming forward and help to identify some of the many incidents of sexual assault that currently go unreported.

Read More

Junior minister Ms Frazer was against including Ms Creasy’s hate crime amendment as part of the Voyeurism (Offences) Bill, saying the “narrow bill” was “not the time to debate misogyny becoming a hate crime”.

The Voyeurism (Offences) Bill passed its third reading in the Commons unopposed and will now go to the House of Lords for consideration. It is expected to pass into law in the coming weeks, making it a specific offense to take photographs up a woman’s skirt against her will.